Featured User: Casey

By day, Casey owns and operates an SEO business, Grand Cru Digital and by night she blogs about wine. Casey has been passionately blogging on Travelling Corkscrew for 8 years while she has been travelling around the world. She is currently based in Australia’s Gippsland wine region in Victoria. Delectable: What sparked your passion for wine? Casey: My first introduction to the wine world was through an after school job at a local winery in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. My parents frequently visited the winery and as a result, the owners offered me a job. I did everything from helping net the vines, to cleaning the stainless steel tanks and I labelled a helluva load of bottles by hand. The process of vine to bottle really intrigued me and nearly 20 years later I am still in awe of the wine world. Plus if it wasn’t for my parents love of wine, who knows if I would still be on this path in life? D: What wine region are you wild about right now? C: I have just moved to Australia’s Gippsland wine region in Victoria. I love supporting local, so I am very excited about exploring this region in depth. Having lived in Perth, Western Australia for the last 6 years, it’s interesting to now be in a cool climate region. I see a lot of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on my horizon! D: What is the most unusual wine you’ve ever tried? C: There have been a number of weird and wacky wines. I am not shy to try something new. Probably the most unusual however was trying some of the Egyptian wines when my husband and I spent a year backpacking through Egypt and Europe. I was surprised at the quality and found them very interesting. D: What is your golden rule for wine? C: Don’t judge people on what they like or say about a wine. There are so many people who are interested in wine, but are too scared to indulge themselves because of all the wine wankers judging them. Everyone’s palates are different, so drink what you enjoy. Life is too short. D: Say you’re not allowed to have wine, what is your second option? C: Ahhhh-that’s a tricky one. If we’re talking about another alcoholic beverage, then my choice would be gin. If we are simply talking about something we can consume then I’d have to lean to potatoes. Whether they’re in French fry form, mashed or roasted, I love a good spud! D: Choose a movie, book, quote, or song and pair it with a wine C: “Marry the person who gives you the same feeling as when you hear a wine bottle open” – paired with a bottle of 2004 Cristal Champagne. My husband (affectionately known as Mr. Spittoon on the blog) proposed to me with a ring and bottle of 2004 Cristal (I am not sure which one I was more excited about!). 2004 was the year we met, and Cristal had been on my tasting bucket list, since Louis Roederer NV was already a firm favorite of ours. Therefore, every year since, on our wedding, and every anniversary, we hunt down a bottle to enjoy. We had this quote up at our wedding in Vanuatu. D: If you were a wine, what wine would you be? C: I’d probably be something like an ice wine. I have a nice balance of refreshing sweetness, balanced by high acidity. I’ll let you take that as you will ;)

Lightfoot &Sons

Home Block Gippsland Chardonnay 2016

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

I’m not going to lie, my #winewednesday was bloody great! I cooked up a beautiful fish curry with the delicious Vinofood Indian Tomato & White Wine Sauce and crackled into this spectacular bottle of Lightfoot & Sons Wines Home Block 2016 Chardonnay. Both elements were heavenly and when put together - WOW 😲

The Chardy has a pretty golden yellow glow to it. The nose is full of vanillin oak, freshly cut mango and stonefruits. It smells of pure delicious elegance! In the mouth wonderful notes of juicy pears and apricots stand out for me with perfectly integrated oak. It’s so creamy, silky and downright yummy. More please!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

Hermes, Trixie and 3 others liked this

Yarra Burn

Bottle Fermented Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Mother’s Day is tomorrow so I hope you’ve got a bottle of bubbly ready to share with Mum / to toast to her awesomeness 💁‍♀️

I received this bottle of Yarra Burn 2015 bubbles as a gift from Accolade Wines to help celebrate. It’s made from your classic Champagne grape 🍇 varieties; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. $25 a bottle.

In the glass it’s rather mesmerising with plentiful golden tinged bubbles streaming up to the top of the glass. The nose immediately made me think of apple crumble with notes of apple, biscuit and vanilla. While in the mouth it’s über smooth and refreshing with an interesting cedary/oaky character to it. Mum will love it!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #winesample #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

Trixie, Hermes and 4 others liked this

Giesen

The August 1888 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

So yesterday was #SauvBlancDay which was a great occasion to indulge in this bottle of Giesen 2013 The August 1888 Sauvignon Blanc. As you can guess from the age, it’s not your typically Sauvy. It’s also 14.5% abv which is high for a white.

According to the Giesen website: “80% of the free run juice is put in tanks before gravity filling second and third use 1000L German oak Fuder barrels with the remainder going to older French oak barriques. Fermentation is left to happen naturally with wild yeasts to add extra texture and build depth and length.”

So how was it? In the glass it’s a medium hay like colour. On the nose it oozes with flavour, think tropical 🌴 fruits like passionfruit and some rounded honeydew melon 🍈. There’s also a hint of nuts. In the mouth it has a bit of minerality and nearly a saline/salty character to it which I found really interesting. Spiced pears 🍐 and bits of dehydrated pineapple 🍍 also came through for me. A truly gorgeous wine! Also it can be cellared for around 10 years!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

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Charles Orban

Troissy Brut Blanc De Blancs Champagne Blend

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a bottle of champagne - trust me guys! I spotted this bottle of very lonely looking champas recently on the Dan Murphy’s shelves for about $50 and thought I better give it some company 😜

Champagne Charles Orban Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% Chardonnay and is a ‘non-vintage’. This means it’s a blend of grapes from different years, aka their house style which they try to keep the same every year. Orban is a grower/producer - I’d highly recommend reading ‘Bursting Bubbles’ for more info on how the vineyards in the Champagne region work.

It’s a lemon juice colour on the eye. Creamy notes of vanilla oak, nutty brioche and spiced citrus jump out of the glass at me. While in the mouth it’s smooth and citrusy with flavours of juicy apples weaved through freshly baked pastry. Highly enjoyable!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #tcweekdaywine #tctastingnotes — 6 years ago

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Il Palazzo

Chianti Sangiovese 2016

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

FYI Tuesday’s match well with red wine & homemade pizza 😜🍕🍷

This Chianti sample comes from Vino Bambino who promote the philosophy to ‘live, love, laugh and drink wine with your family and friends’. That’s my sort of motto!

This Il Palazzo 2016 Chianti from Italy 🇮🇹 is made up of predominately Sangiovese (typically it makes up 75-100% of the blend in a Chianti). Chianti is a type of wine but also a region in Tuscany.

It’s a ruby red colour in the glass. On the nose it’s earthy yet fresh with red and black fruits and there’s also a hint of pencil lead. In the mouth it’s soft and subtle with good acidity. There’s also a lick of tannin to top it off. A great $20 bottle of Italian red!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #winesample #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

Trixie, Keith and 5 others liked this

Trixie

Very nice!🍷 I also like Chianti wine. They were meant for pasta/pizza. 🍕

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

They sure are @Trixie 🍷🍕

Landhaus Estate

Arneis 2016

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Oh how I love my Arneis! @wineselectirs hit the nail on the head putting this sample case together for me. Plenty of interesting wines to keep my palate entertained!

Arneis is a white Italian wine grape variety originating from Piedmont, Italy. This example from Landhaus is made in SA’s Adelaide Hills region.

It’s a light warm yellow colour in the glass. While on the nose it’s quite aromatic with notes of navel orange 🍊, pineapple 🍍, florals and hint of strawberry candies. In the mouth it’s nice and dry with minerality and a floral-like mid-palate. Quite like a Riesling in my opinion but with a bit more tropical fruit. Delicious and interesting!

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #winesample #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

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Viña Real (CVNE)

Fermentado en Barrica Rioja Viura 2014

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

The latest #thetcwineclub box was all about your non-typical white grape varieties. This 2014 barrel-fermented Spanish Viura by Vina Real hails from the region of Rioja where this grape is quite common.

The Viura grape is also known as Macabeo which is one of the key grapes that goes into making the Spanish sparkling wine, Cava.

This Viura is a lemon yellow colour in the glass. It’s fresh, floral and herby on the nose and in the mouth it’s refreshing juicy with subtle lemony pear and peach flavours. Highly enjoyable and great with our baked fish, chips & salad.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #winesample #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

James, Trixie and 3 others liked this

Trixie

Cheers! Another superb review.

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Cheers @Trixie 🥂

Glenmaggie Wines

Gippsland Pinot Noir 2017

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Monday’s are for Pinot and sexy glassware 😜 Tonight we’re cracking into this Glenmaggie 2017 Pinot Noir from up the road here in Gippsland. We tried it when we visited the winery a couple of weekends ago and loved it.

It’s a raspberry cherry red colour in the glass. Sweet red fruits and baking spice spice seduce the nose with a subtle hint of cedary oak. In the mouth it’s juicy with bright acidity and flavours of strawberries, raspberries and cherries 🍒. It’s still young, so it’ll be interesting how it develops over the next few years.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

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Marshall Todd Herron DPM

Cheers!

Trixie

Cheers! I like your Monday philosophy.

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Cheers @Trixie 🍷

The Prince

Pyrenees Shiraz 2017

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Red wine & a bubble bath 🛀- this is how I love to relax! This bottle of The Prince 🤴🏻 of the Pyrenees 2017 Shiraz is a sample from the lovely folk at Vino Bambino.

We’re not talking about the Pyrenees in France but the Pyrenees Wine Region in Western Victoria 🇦🇺. It’s about 2 hours from Melbourne and comprises of 40+ vineyards growing 30+ different grape varieties 🍇

The Prince is a juicy purple-red plum colour in the glass. Notes of candied fruits, cooling mint and spicy cedar wood come through on the nose. While in the mouth 👄 it’s fruity and juicy with a nice long finish and plush tannins. In terms of flavour, it’s a little bit meaty which made me think of meat with a berry jus. There are also subtle hints of chocolate 🍫.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #winesample #tcweekdaywine — 6 years ago

Trixie, Hermes and 4 others liked this

Trixie

I appreciate your carefully written reviews. The label is adorable! Almost like a story book. 📚

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

You’re right, it’s very storybook like @Trixie ☺️

Jim Barry

Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2017

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

Hello Mr. Jim Barry! Recently we got stuck into this 2017 Watervale Riesling from the Clare Valley (SA) which went down... very easily at $16 a bottle.

It’s a very pale lemon colour on the eye. The nose is floral, fruity and vibrant with a hint of musk sticks. In the mouth it’s full of juicy pear and lemon & lime flavours. It’s dry, crisp and clean.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy! #tcweekdaywine #tctastingnotes — 6 years ago

Trixie, Chris and 5 others liked this